Trolley

Abstract

Flat trolley is suitable for moving heavy objects, eg furniture. It has central retractable strap for securing an object to trolley and loops at respective ends to enable trolley to be manually pulled, carried up stairs, etc. Flexible loops have respective pairs of retractors which allow human operators to slowly extend loops so they can be placed over the operators' shoulders. Sharp tuggins on loops however locks retractors allowing the object and trolley to then be carried using loops.

1 . A trolley including a frame, a first lifting arrangement located adjacent a first end of the frame, and a second lifting arrangement located adjacent a second opposite end of the frame, each of the first and second lifting arrangements including a first flexible member connected to the frame at spaced locations on the frame so as to define a loop, and at least one first retractor mounted to the frame, each at least one first retractor being associated with a first flexible member and each at least one first retractor being arranged to allow its associated first flexible member to withdraw from the first retractor when the first flexible member is withdrawn at a speed which is below a predetermined speed, and to lock the first flexible member and prevent further withdrawal when the first flexible member is withdrawn at a speed which exceeds the predetermined speed, the arrangement being such that each first flexible member is selectively adjustable in length and selectively lockable to restrain or permit enlargement of the first flexible member.  
   
   
       2 . A trolley as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein each lifting arrangement includes two first retractors mounted to the frame at spaced locations on the frame.  
   
   
       3 . A trolley as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein each lifting arrangement is mounted on at least one platform.  
   
   
       4 . A trolley as claimed in  claim 1 , further including at least one strengthening plate.  
   
   
       5 . A trolley as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the frame is defined by two opposite side members and two opposite end members, and the at least one strengthening plate extends between the side members and/or between the end members.  
   
   
       6 . The trolley of  claim 1 , further including a restraining arrangement for facilitating retaining of an item on the trolley.  
   
   
       7 . A trolley as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the restraining arrangement includes a second retractor, a second flexible member associated with the second retractor, a first attachment portion provided on the frame, and a second attachment portion attached to an end of the second flexible member remote from the second retractor, the second attachment portion being adapted to engage with the first attachment portion.  
   
   
       8 . A trolley as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the second attachment portion includes a male buckle portion and the first attachment portion includes a female buckle portion.  
   
   
       9 . A trolley as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the restraining arrangement includes tensioning means for applying tension to the second flexible member when the first attachment portion is engaged with the second attachment portion.  
   
   
       10 . A trolley as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the second flexible member is a strap.  
   
   
       11 . The trolley of  claim 7 , wherein the first flexible member is a strap.  
   
   
       12 . The trolley of  claim 7 , further including a plurality of castors.  
   
   
       13 . (canceled)  
   
   
       14 . A trolley as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the second flexible member is a strap.